Bexley's biggest traffic bottleneck, Bexley Village, could soon be a thing of teh past thanks to proposals by the council.

The village is currently gridlocked twice a day with traffic queuing back onto the A2 and the North Cray dual carriageway at peak times.

Frustrated drivers speed through the village when they get the chance and often mount the pavement leading to 32 accidents in the past three years.

Now Bexley Council has formulated a series of proposals, which would each cost about £175,000 to implement, and may prevent four accidents a year.

The most radical proposal is to create a 20mph zone stretching from the Coach and Horses pub to the beginning of Parkhill Road and the library, in Bourne Road, taking in the whole of the High Street and Thanet Road. The zone would be flagged up by a change in the road surface and colour.

Other measures include pedestrian crossings, speed cushions and speed tables to slow down the traffic and raising kerbs to stop traffic mounting the pavement.

A plan to build a by-pass around the village and provide a dual carriageway link between the A2 and A20 was scuppered by the Government which refused to provide the cash.

Bexley Council has sent leaflets to homes and businesses in the village with details of the proposals

People are invited to fill in a questionnaire on the plans and return it to the council by December 14.

Questionnaires are available from Spencer Palmer on 020 8303 7777 ext 2971 and details of the proposals are on the council's website at www.bexley.gov.uk

December 5, 2001 9:38

Linda Piper